Who We Are
Bags of Belonging is a youth‑centered nonprofit dedicated to bringing comfort, dignity, and stability to young people experiencing moments of transition.
We create thoughtfully curated bags filled with essentials, comfort items, and resources that help youth feel seen, supported, and valued when life shifts unexpectedly.
The Heart of Our Work
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To restore dignity, comfort, and belonging for foster youth by providing thoughtfully curated bags filled with essentials, comfort items, and personalized touches during moments of transition.
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A world where every young person in foster care feels valued, supported, and equipped with what they need to navigate change with confidence.
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Dignity — Every child deserves to feel worthy of care.
Consistency — Our bags are reliable, high-quality, and thoughtfully curated.
Trauma-Informed Care — We design every step with gentleness, safety, and respect.
Community — We partner with families, agencies, and volunteers to uplift youth together.
Belonging — Every bag is a reminder that they matter.
Our Founders Story
Bags of Belonging was created from a simple truth: no young person should have to carry their life in a trash bag. My name is JaQuay, and my passion for supporting youth in foster care started long before my career. Even as a kid, I gravitated toward helping young people who were navigating instability, and in college I volunteered wherever I could.
It wasn’t until I worked in public health as a health educator that I finally had the ability to do more. In 2019, I raised money to create and donate about twenty bags filled with essentials and comfort items for youth in foster care in Sacramento County. Over the past few years, I continued this work through Gifts from the Heart, raising funds and donating items to help young people feel seen, valued, and supported.
Bags of Belonging is also deeply inspired by my friend, Tiara Johnson. She was a fierce advocate for equity and justice, always fighting for those who didn’t have a seat at the table. Her legacy reminds me that small acts of care can change a young person’s experience in a big way. Every bag is crafted with intention, compassion, and the belief that dignity should never be optional.
Why It Matters
Every transition a young person faces carries weight. When youth enter foster care, move between placements, or navigate sudden changes, they often lose not just belongings, but stability, dignity, and a sense of being cared for. Something as simple as having their own bag, filled with essentials, comfort items, and reminders that someone thought about them, can shift how they experience that moment.
Bags of Belonging exists because small acts of care create real impact. A thoughtfully packed bag can ease anxiety, restore dignity, and help a young person feel seen during a time when everything else may feel uncertain. These bags are more than supplies. They are a message: you matter, you belong, and you deserve to be supported with intention.